[p. 80]improves the respiration, and allays lassitude;
for it soothes the joints and outer skin, and is diuretic, removes
heaviness of the head, and moistens the nose. Such are the benefits
to be derived from the bath, if all the proper requisites be present;
but if one or more of these be wanting, the bath, instead of doing
good, may rather prove injurious; for every one of them may do harm
if not prepared by the attendants in the proper manner.
It is by no means a suitable thing in these diseases to persons whose
bowels are too loose, or when they are unusually confined, and there
has been no previous evacuation; neither must we bathe those who are
debilitated, nor such as have nausea or vomiting, or bilious eructations;
nor such as have hemorrhage from the nose, unless it be less than
required at that stage of the disease (with those stages you are acquainted),
but if the discharge be less than proper, one should use the bath,
whether in order to benefit the whole body or the head alone. If then
the proper requisites be at hand, and the patient be well disposed
to the bath, it may be administered once every day, or if the patient
be fond of the bath there will be no harm, though he should take it
twice in the day. The use of the bath is much more appropriate to
those who take unstrained ptisan, than to those who take only the
juice of it, although even in their case it may be proper; but least
of all does it suit with those who use only plain drink, although,
in their case too it may be suitable; but one must form a judgment
from the rules laid down before, in which of these modes of regimen
the bath will be beneficial, and in which not. Such as want some of
the requisites for a proper bath, but have those symptoms which would
be benefited by it, should be bathed; whereas those who want none
of the proper requisites, but have certain symptoms which contraindicate
the bath, are not to be bathed.
APPENDIX
PART 1
Ardent fever (causus) takes place when the veins, being dried up
in the summer season, attract acrid and bilious humors to themselves;
and strong fever seizes the whole body, which experiences aches of
the bones, and is in a state of lassitude and
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